Structure for sealing casket lids



Dec. 8, 1970 o; SCHEVENELL 3,545,056

STRUCTURE FOR SEALING CASKET LIDS Filed Dec. 26, 1967 United States Patent Office 3,545,056 Patented Dec. 8, 1970 3,545,056 STRUCTURE FOR SEALING CASKET LIDS Leonard 0. Schevenell, Niles, lll., assignor to The Merit Company, a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 26, 1967, Ser. No. 693,243 Int. Cl. A61g 17/00 US. Cl. 27-16 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A method and structure for sealing a casket lid including an appropriate gasket having at least one pad with a pocket for receiving an adhesive or glue therein. In addition, the pocket containing the adhesive is adapted to receive a foot of a cover gasket in air tight sealing relationship.

This invention relates to a structure for sealing casket lids and more particularly, to a simple and economical structure for hermetically sealing the lid of a casket t the bottom or frame of the casket.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is an improved structure for sealing a casket lid to a casket frame which cooperates with the lock structure to hermetically seal the casket when closing the lid.

A further object is an improved structure for making all joints Within the casket air tight.

Another object is an improved structure for receiving an adhesive substance that does not set up until just prior to closing the casket lid.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from time to time in the ensuing specification and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a casket structure showing the head portion of a half couch in an open position,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial top view of the sealing mechanism showing the front joint between the head and foot portions of the half couch.

In FIG. 1 a casket structure is indicated at and includes a main frame 12 having a cover or lid 14 pivoted at 16 in a conventional manner. The main frame 12 has a plurality of sides 18, 20,22 and 24 forming horizontal surfaces disposed around the outer edge of the frame. The cover or lid 14 has corresponding sides 26, 28, 30 and 32 forming corresponding marginal surfaces which substantially conform in size and dimension to the sides and surfaces of the main frame. As is shown in FIG. 1, the casket 10 preferably has a split lid or half couch with a foot portion 34 and a head portion 36. In addition an appropriate locking mechanism shown generally at 38 locks the lid in place.

In a casket one of the most important objectives is a hermetically sealed structure. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a method and structure for sealing casket lids in more detail. The structure for sealing a casket lid preferably has an appropriate gasket 40 attached to the horizontal surfaces of the main frame 12. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the frame gasket 40 includes a pad 42 with a cavity or pocket 44 for receiving an adhesive substance 46 therein.

Normally there will be a pad with an appropriate pocket at both the front and back joints between the half couch and the main frame. The pad 42 is preferably rectangular in shape with the pocket 44 adapted to receive a foot 48 of another gasket 50 which seals the foot portion 34 and head portion 36 of the half couch.

The foot 48 of the cover gasket 50 has a relatively narrow thickness and seats within the pocket 44 allowing the lid to rest securely against the main frame thereby providing a completely air tight seal. The important feature of this structure is that the foot 48 seats completely within the cavity 44 and therefore does not protrude above the top surface of the frame gasket 40 making a completely air tight seal possible.

In addition the frame gasket 40 preferably has a channel or groove 52 which may also receive an adhesive substance 46 therein. The channel 52 containing the adhesive 46 contacts the marginal surfaces of the lid 14 when the casket is closed causing the outer edges of the channel 52 to compress and spread apart due to the weight and pressure of the lid. Therefore an air tight seal will be provided between the lid 14 and main frame 12 due to the weight of the casket lid, the closing pressure of the locking mechanism 38 and the adhering properties of the adhesive 46 in the channel of the frame gasket.

The use, operation and function of this invention are as follows:

The important advantage of this invention is that it provides a hermetically sealed joint between the half couch lid 14 and main frame 12. In particular the foot 48 of the cover gasket 50 no longer prevents an air tight seal between the lid and frame by protruding above the horizontal surface of the frame gasket 40. In this invention the foot of the cover gasket seats within the pocket 44 of the pad 42 allowing the lid 14 to rest securely against the frame 12 on all horizontal surfaces of contact thereby providing an air tight seal.

The method of sealing the casket lid is accomplished by filling the pockets 44 and/or channels 52 of the frame gasket with a strong adhesive or glue. The adhesive may be covered by a removable tab 54 or placed within a bag or sack,.not shown, to prevent it from setting up before the desired time. When it is desired to seal the casket lid 14 to the main frame 12, the tab 54 may be removed or the bag may be punctured releasing the adhesive. Another possibility would be to provide the funeral director with a tube of adhesive allowing him to fill the pockets 44 and/or channels 52 with adhesive just prior to sealing the casket lid to the main frame.

Both gaskets 40 and 50 including the pads 42 and feet 48 are preferably made from rubber or some other elastic material having good sealing properties. The adhesive or glue 46 must have strong adhering properties and if the adhesive remains within the pockets 44 or channels 52 for long periods of time, it is important that it does not cure or set up until the appropriate time when it is desired to secure the lid to the main frame of the casket.

It is understood that this invention is not confined to the particular construction and arrangement of parts herein illustrated and described, but embraces all such modified forms thereof as may come within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a casket structure having a main frame with a split lid pivoted in a conventional manner, the improvement comprising:

a frame gasket attached to the horizontal surfaces of the main frame,

said frame gasket having at least one pad with a cavity forming a pocket for receiving an adhesive substance therein, and

a cover gasket for sealing the joint between the split lid including a foot adapted to seat within the pocket in said frame gasket thereby providing an air tight seal between the lid and main frame of said casket.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the frame gasket has a groove extending around the horizontal surfaces of said main frame adapted to receive an adhesive substance therein.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that there is a pad with an appropriate pocket 'at both the front and back joints between the split lid-and main frame of said casket.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the adhesive substance does not set up until just prior to the final closing of said casket lid.

5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the adhesive substance is covered by a removable tab which prevents said adhesive from setting up before the desired time.

6. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the foot of said cover gasket is narrow in thickness and seats within said pocket allowing the lid to rest securely against the main frame thereby providing a completely air tight seal.

4 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS McEwan 2717 'Haase 2735 UX Rector et a1. 2735 Lambert 27-17 Van Horn 27--17 Dower 2717 US. Cl. X.R. 

